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English 105: Introduction to Narrative | MWF 9-9:50 | SOEB 110
Fall 2012 / Instructor: Kristin Inciardi / Office: Curry TBA
Mailbox: MHRA 3114 / Email: k_inciar@uncg.edu
Office hours: Tuesday 9:30-12:30 or by appointment
Course Description:
As an introductory course, this class will help to develop your appreciation for and
understanding of narrative—that is, the different ways in which we tell stories, the effect
these differing forms have on an audience, and even why we bother to tell stories in the
first place. To that end, we’ll spend the semester doing a great deal of reading and
discussion of three narrative genres in particular—novels, short stories, plays, and
creative nonfiction—from a variety of writers of the 19th, 20th, and 21st centuries. In
addition to practicing close, thoughtful reading, you’ll learn some of the basic
terminology of literary analysis and have chances to practice it in your own writing.
Required Texts:
Donoghue, Emma. Room. New York: Back Bay Books, 2011. Print. ISBN:
9780316098328
Kelly, Robert, ed. The Seagull Reader: Stories, 2nd Edition. New York: WW Norton,
2008, Print. ISBN: 9780393930917
McCarthy, Cormac. The Road. New York: Vintage Books, 2006. Print. ISBN:
9780307387899
Sparks, Summer C., Tammy Lancaster and Scott Thomas Gibson, eds. Lenses:
Perspectives on Literature. Plymouth, MI: Hayden-McNeil Publishing, 2012.
Print. ISBN: 9780738051055
Wilson, August. Fences. New York: Samuel French, 2010. Print. ISBN: 9780573619052
There will also be required readings on Blackboard. Please bring these to class on the
day they will be discussed as listed on the syllabus.
Student Learning Goals:
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Identify and understand varied characteristics of literature
Apply techniques of literary analysis to texts
Use literary study to develop skills in careful reading and clear writing
Demonstrate understanding of the diverse social and historical contexts in which
literary texts have been written and interpreted
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Academic Integrity:
“Academic integrity is founded upon and encompasses the following five values:
honesty, trust, fairness, respect, and responsibility. Violations include, for example,
cheating, plagiarism, misuse of academic resources, falsification, and facilitating
academic dishonesty. If knowledge is to be gained and properly evaluated, it must be
pursued under conditions free from dishonesty. Deceit and misrepresentations are
incompatible with the fundamental activity of this academic institution and shall not be
tolerated” (from UNCG’s Academic Integrity Policy). To ensure that you understand the
university’s policy on academic integrity, review the guidelines and list of violations at
http://academicintegrity.uncg.edu. I expect you to abide by the Academic Integrity
Policy.
Any instance of plagiarism or cheating will result in failure of the assignment and may
result in failure of the course, depending on the severity of the violation and the overall
value of the assignment to the final grade. A second offense of any kind will result in
failure of the course.
Attendance:
You are expected to come to every class on time, to have all the texts we will be
discussing in hand, and ready to participate in discussion. You are, however, allowed a
maximum of four absences, for whatever reason, without a grade penalty. These
absences include both excused and unexcused. Further absences will result in a
reduction of your final grade by a half letter grade per absence. If you miss eight classes,
you will fail the course.
You are, by state law, allowed two excused absences due to religious holidays, which do
not count your total allowed absences if you plan to miss class because of your faith, you
must notify me a week in advance in writing.
If you miss a class or have a question about an assignment for the next class, check
Blackboard to see what is due, or check with me. It is your responsibility to find out
what you have missed and to turn in work when it is due.
If you are more than five minutes late to class, you will be considered tardy. Tardiness
will negatively affect your participation grade, as will leaving class early.
If you know you will be late or absent, please let me know. Obviously, emergencies and
unforeseen circumstances occur. The more you communicate with me, the better off
we’ll both be.
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Assignments:
In addition to daily readings, assignments include:
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Quizzes: There will be unannounced reading quizzes. There are no make-up
quizzes given for absences. As long as you read the texts closely, you should do
fine.
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Close readings: in 2-3 pages, you will write two close readings of texts we’ve
studied in class. They are due September 28 and November 16. More
instructions and guidelines to follow.
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Exams: There are three exams: an exam that covers elements of narrative and
Room; a midterm, which will cover short stories; and the final exam, which will
cover The Road and creative nonfiction. The exams will include both objective
and short answer questions. We will spend one class session each reviewing for
the midterm and final exams.
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Participation: this is defined as not only being present in class, but also actively
contributing to discussion, and being prepared with the day’s course material. If
you never contribute to class discussion, expect your participation grade for
the semester to be no higher than a C.
Grading:
Participation
Close Readings
Quizzes
Room Exam
Midterm and Final
15%
15%
20% (I will drop the lowest quiz grade)
10%
40% (20% each)
Electronics:
Some of the course readings will be on Blackboard (see calendar). Although I would
prefer you to print out these readings, you are allowed to bring laptops to class and have
the readings on screen. Please take notes in writing instead of typing; I’m always happy
to repeat something if you ask me to. (Laptop use for note taking is allowed for students
who have registered with the Office of Disability Services).
If I see you using your computer for anything aside from viewing the readings, your
laptop privileges will be revoked for the rest of the semester.
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Also, you may not talk or text on a cell phone during class because it is VERY RUDE.
If I see you on your phone, your participation grade for the day will be a zero, even if I
don’t call you out on it. The more you try to conceal that you’re texting, the more
obvious it is.
Office of Disability Services:
Students with documentation of special needs should arrange to see me about
accommodations as soon as possible. If you believe you could benefit from such
accommodations, you must first register with the Office of Disability Services on campus
before such accommodations can be made. The office is located on the second floor of
the Elliott University Center (EUC) in Suite 215, and the office is open 8am to 5pm,
Monday – Friday. Telephone: 336-334-5440; email: ods@uncg.edu.
The Writing Center:
The purpose of the Writing Center is to enhance the confidence and competence of
student writers by providing free, individual assistance at any stage of any writing
project. Staff consultants are experienced writers and alert readers, prepared to offer
feedback and suggestions on drafts of papers, help students find answers to their
questions about writing, and provide one-on-one instruction as needed. Located in
MHRA 3211.
The Learning Assistance Center:
The Learning Assistance Center offers free services to the entire UNCG undergraduate
community and is located in McIver Hall, rooms 101-104, and 150. For help with study
skills, contact Erin Farrior, Academic Skill specialist. Telephone: 336-334-3878; email:
lac@uncg.edu.
Calendar:
This schedule is subject to change at the instructor’s discretion.
Readings are listed on the days they are due.
SR = Seagull Reader
Bb = Blackboard. All texts that are posted to Blackboard must be brought to class the
day they are discussed.
Week 1
8/20
Introduction to class, syllabus review
5
8/22
The Short Story
Lenses Chapter 1; “Story of an Hour” (SR)
8/24
Miniature Narratives
“The Use of Force” by William Carlos Williams (Bb); “Boys” by Rick
Moody (Bb)
Week 2
8/27
Plot
“The Cask of Amontillado” by Edgar Allen Poe and section on plot in
introduction to The Seagull Reader (SR)
8/29
Plot/Characterization
Lenses Chapter 7; “Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?” by
Joyce Carol Oates (SR)
8/31
Characterization
“The Things They Carried” by Tim O’Brien (SR)
Week 3
9/3
Labor Day – no class
9/5
Narrator and Voice
Lenses Chapter 9, “Hills Like White Elephants” by Ernest Hemingway
(SR)
9/7
Time, Setting, Place
Lenses Chapter 8; “The Yellow Wallpaper” by Charlotte Gilman Perkins
Week 4
9/10
Time, Setting, Place
“A Rose for Emily” by William Faulkner (SR)
9/12
Symbolism
Lenses Chapter 4; “Young Goodman Brown” by Nathaniel Hawthorne
(SR)
9/14
Room by Emma Donoghue – “Presents”
Week 5
9/17
Room – “Unlying”
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9/19
Room – “Dying” – read through page 115
9/21
Room – “Dying” – finish chapter
Week 6
9/24
Room – “After” – read through page 206
9/26
Room – “After” – finish chapter
9/28
Room – “Living”
FIRST CLOSE READING DUE
Week 7
10/1
Room exam
10/3
Literary Elements Working Together
“Happy Endings” by Margaret Atwood (Bb)
10/5
Literary Elements Working Together
“newborn baby thrown in trash and dies” by John Edgar Wideman (Bb)
Week 8
10/8
Literary Elements Working Together
“Cathedral” by Raymond Carver (SR)
10/10
Literary Elements Working Together
“The Lady with the Little Dog” by Anton Chekhov (Bb)
10/12
Literary Elements Working Together
“Interpreter of Maladies” by Jhumpa Lahiri (Bb)
Week 9
10/15
Fall Break – no class
10/17
Exam Review
10/19
MIDTERM EXAM
Week 10
10/22
Creative Nonfiction – memoir
“Mirrorings” by Lucy Grealy (Bb)
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10/24
Creative Nonfiction – personal essay
“Reviewing Anne Frank” by Patricia Hampl (Bb)
10/26
Creative Nonfiction –
“Shipping Out” by David Foster Wallace (Bb)
Week 11
10/29
Creative Nonfiction – Literary Journalism
“Frank Sinatra Has a Cold” by Gay Talese (Bb)
10/31
Creative Nonfiction – Literary Journalism
“Final Cut” by Atul Gawande (Bb)
11/2
Creative Nonfiction “Meet the Shaggs” by Susan Orlean (Bb)
Week 12
11/5
Fences by August Wilson – read Act I
11/7
Fences – read Act II
11/9
Fences
Week 13
11/12
The Dumbwaiter by Harold Pinter – read through page 103
11/14
The Dumbwaiter – finish play
11/16
The Dumbwaiter
SECOND CLOSE READING DUE
Week 14
11/19
The Road – read through page 106
11/21
Thanksgiving Break – no class
11/23
Thanksgiving Break – no class
Week 15
11/26
The Road – finish book for today
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11/18
The Road
11/30
The Road
Week 16
12/3
Exam Review